Tag Archive for: foodtech

Eatex Food Innovation Hub launches its second call to promote technology transfer in the agri-food sector.

  • The Hub has opened the application period for Exponential projects to participate in its innovation and technology transfer program.

  • The program promotes and finances collaborative R&D projects to develop innovative technological solutions that can be transferred from R&D centers to the agri-food industry.

Eatex Food Innovation Hub, the collaborative innovation hub for the transfer and implementation of technology in the agri-food industry has opened the deadline for receiving applications for exponential projects for the Innovation and Technology Transfer Development Program. The program is part of the main activities developed by the hub to promote and finance collaborative R&D&I projects for the development of innovative technological solutions that can be transferred from R&D centers to the agri-food industry.
Created a few months ago, Eatex Food Innovation Hub is a project driven by CNTA (National Center for Food Technology and Safety), with the support of the Government of Navarra and the collaboration of more than 10 R&D centers of the Navarra R&D&I System (SINAI), which promotes technology transfer in the agri-food sector to improve business competitiveness and find solutions to the industrial challenges of today and the future. This open and applied innovation ecosystem adopts a holistic approach, based on the implementation of agile and advanced research dynamics and models.
The program is addressed to companies and startups from any geographical location and SINAI R&D centers operating in the agri-food sector seeking collaborative projects based on consortia between companies and R&D centers. The companies are the promoters and are responsible for defining the technological challenge and the R&D centers are the main executors of the research activities.
In addition, the program contemplates two different modalities: Express projects, with fast execution (maximum duration of 6 months projects), and Exponential projects (with R&D&I activities that address complex problems with a variable execution period (from several months up to 2 years)). Pre-application for both modalities is open continuously from December 2022 and upon approval, the application phase will start. For Express projects the call will be open continuously, while for Exponential projects the call will remain open until May 22, 2023.

The projects will address new proposals and solutions in six key research areas for the agri-food industry: Promotion of the Agriculture and Livestock of the Future, Search for New Ingredients and Production Models, Development of New Food and Beverages for a Healthy Diet, and Implementation of the 4.0 Industry and Hyperconnected Processes.
According to Silvia García de la Torre, director of Eatex Food Innovation Hub, “The Program for the development of innovation and technology transfer is a unique opportunity for companies in the agri-food sector to solve their industrial challenges in an agile way, optimizing their resources and minimizing innovation risk.”
More information about Eatex Food Innovation Hub at www.eatexfoodinnovationhub.com

The investment in the Foodtech sector in Spain grows by over 9% in 2022

The conclusions of the third report on the Foodtech sector in Spain were presented at the ICEX Auditorium. In the framework of this event, some of the main players of the ecosystem have discussed the challenges and the internationalization strategy for this sector. The food technology sector is an essential link in the Spanish food industry.

An intense transformation of food is taking place as a result of the impact of new technologies and the foodtech ecosystem is set to play an essential role in this process in the coming years.

Thus, in a context of global contraction, investment in the foodtech sector in Spain in 2022 has increased by 9.38%, reaching 268 million euros, discounting the Glovo effect, as revealed in the report “Addressing new challenges across the food value chain” promoted by ICEX Spain Export and Investment.

But not only has it been able to attract major investment operations with national and international players, but there has also been a significant increase in the number of operators in the ecosystem: 412 startups, compared to 407 last year, more than 30,000 companies involved in food transformation, as well as more than 50 specialized universities and 20 cutting-edge technology centers involved.

These are just some of the conclusions drawn from the report on the Spanish Foodtech sector in 2022 presented, an essential link in the Spanish food industry.

This third report also points out that, in order to consolidate in the ecosystem, it is essential to have a high technological capacity and strength, which translates into patents, trade secrets and trademarks. Thus, 32.9% of the 412 Spanish startups have a patent for their technology and 29% have a trade secret, which indicates the robustness of Spanish companies in the sector.

Moreover, during 2022, the percentage of startups that have developed their own technology has further increased. In this area, there is a spectacular growth in the use of technologies, mainly startups that use artificial intelligence (AI), rising from 28.21% to 40.79%, gaining 12 points over the previous year.

It is worth highlighting the sector’s contribution in terms of circular economy, providing those technologies that allow the re-valorization of by-products, thus reducing waste and creating new uses ranging from packaging to ingredients.

ICEX CEO, María Peña, opened the event to present the report, highlighting that it is “a fundamental sector for attracting capital and investment in startups”. She stressed that “it has become a key of high added value in any strategy in favor of knowledge and expansion of our ecosystem of innovative and technological entrepreneurs” and also noted “the sector’s commitment to sustainability and making this attribute its flag”.

Likewise, María Peña emphasized that “there is no promotional strategy that is not based on knowledge”, and in this sense, “this report, within the framework of our alliance with Eatable Adventures, is undoubtedly a fundamental element of that knowledge”.

In closing his speech, Peña wanted to put on record that “if Spain will continue to be a Spain Food Nation, it will be so because it is also a Spain Foodtech Nation”.

To download the report, click here

Areas for Change Challenge

Areas for Change Challenge, the new opportunity for the food & beverage’s startups ecosystem in travel retail

Areas challenges the international entrepreneurial community to find real solutions related to sustainability, gastronomy, and digitalization challenges within the industry of food & beverage and travel retail.

 

Areas, the global leader company that manages restaurants and convenience stores at airports, train stations, and motorway travel plazas and which operates in 10 countries, has launched Areas for Change Challenge, its first Startups Challenge, to identify specific and feasible solutions to respond their business and sectorial challenges within the industry of food & beverage and travel retail, especially in terms of sustainability and consumer experience. 

The company has launched this new initiative in the framework of its ESG strategy ‘Areas for Change’, which focuses on three main pillars: People, Planet and Future. With this program, and in collaboration with Eatable Adventures, one of the leading global Foodtech accelerators, Areas is looking for startups delivering real solutions to the following challenges:

  • People: healthier products for breakfast and grab & go moments on the move
  • Planet: solutions for managing the waste generated in the Areas’ restaurants
  • Future: digital or robotic solutions to improve efficiency

The selected startups will have the opportunity to work with a leading company in the sector and access its international network: a 3-month pilot program in Areas’ locations at a global level; product placement expertise in Areas’ most relevant points of sale; support in go-to-market strategies with Areas professional team, consumer insights analysis by Areas expertise; investment for your project to take off and a potential future agreement to become a supplier.

According to Oscar Vela, CEO at Areas, “Areas promotes this challenge to find solutions that will reinvent the sector of travel retail and will help to promote a greater environmental commitment and experience for the travelers. We look for solutions that respond to the great challenges that we will face in the travel retail industry in the next years”. 

In words of Itziar Ortega, Senior VP of Global Operations at Eatable Adventures “We are very excited to launch this new challenge with a leading innovation company with an international presence such as Areas. The selected startups will have the great opportunity to scale and expand their business by working with a global leader in the travel retail sector, having access to all its know-how, infrastructure and network of points of sale. Thanks to the commitment of partners like Areas, we continue to accelerate the industry’s transition to a much more sustainable and efficient model.”

Those startups that are Interested in taking the market to the next level can register here: https://areasforchange.com/challenge/

foodtech events

2023 noteworthy foodtech events

With the worldwide foodtech community growing in an exponential manner, 2023 arrives full of noteworthy foodtech events that bring the opportunity for leaders, and entrepreneurs to connect, create and learn about new disruptive projects that will change the foodtech industry for good, in a sustainable way. 

January

January 31- February 2 Fermentation-Enabled Alt.Pro Summit 🇺🇸

The 3rd annual Fermentation-Enabled Alternative Protein Summit, as the only industry-led forum uniting the entire biomass and precision fermentation ecosystem, will return to San Francisco as an in-person meeting. Hosting 150+ key decision-makers from biotech and food tech, multinational consumer packaged goods, independent food brands, and ingredient suppliers, this 3-day summit will help you scale up and successfully commercialize fermentation-enabled alternatives with speed to market. 

February

February 15-16 Meat Evolution Summit 2023 🇩🇪

MEVO is a leaders summit that exclusively brings in-person decision makers from prominent to small-sized manufacturers, commercial producers, investors, cutting-edge technology providers, intellectuals, brands, and future food vanguards who want to increase their knowledge and foothold in this lucrative growth market. This 2-day summit will be full of powerful talks with CXOs who are revolutionizing the food industry, it will showcase the latest technologies, best practices, and advanced strategies that reduce time-to-market, solutions that minimize production costs, and knowledge sharing to learn optimal scale-up globally.

Get a 20% off your ticket price with our discount code EATABLE20

February 15-16 New Food Invest 💻

The New Food Invest is a global conference series that will bring together international plant-based and cultured-food businesses, investors and venture capitalists to benefit from the growth of the alternative protein sector in the Asia-Pacific region.

 February 21-23 The Future of Protein Production 💻

This 3-day online event serves as a meeting place for accelerating the commercialization of alternative proteins.  It’s addressed to any company involved in making the global food system more sustainable, kind, and fair for the planet, people, and animals. It’s an open space for networking and will count with more than 100 conferences with 75+ speakers.    

It’s an opportunity to explore and discuss with world-leading experts, discover the latest industry trends, grow and promote businesses.  

March 

March 14  Tastes of Better – Food Matters Live 🇬🇧

The first event in their event series take place on March 14th. Embrace an exclusive VIP experience in their unique London venue. Through technical presentations and tastings, you’ll explore the latest ingredient, flavour and colour solutions from the industry’s leading innovators.

March 14-15 World Agritech USA  🇺🇸

The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit returns on March 2023. A global audience of 2000 will gather in San Francisco and online for a unique, 2-day event aimed at moving transformational agricultural technologies out of the lab and into the field. This event has become the annual meeting place for the global agtech ecosystem. Growers, agribusiness leaders, technology pioneers, and investors come together to exchange insights, be inspired, and identify future partners.

March 16-17 Future Food-Tech SF 🇺🇸

Future Food-Tech is a key event to connect and work towards a food system that is better for people and better for the planet. It’s an inspirational event where large established players and small innovative companies are both represented to discuss future technologies in the food space. Food brands, active investors, start-ups, and technology leaders reunited to connect, network, and expand their knowledge of the industry.

Get a 10% off your ticket price with our discount code EA10

March 20 – 22 International Food & Drink Event 🇬🇧

Held in the city of innovation, London, IFE, International Food & Drink Event, brings together an immersive and interactive event. Over the three days, IFE will welcome 25,000 key industry professionals to come and sample the latest products, develop their knowledge of the trends affecting the food and drink sector, and network face-to-face with suppliers.

Your pass will give you unrivaled access to touch, taste, and sample the latest innovative products from around the world, listen and learn from our incredible line-up of speakers, plus meet and reconnect with industry peers.

 March 21 – 23 Plant-Based Proteins & Foods Course Europe 🇳🇱

Since 2005, the Plant-Based Proteins & Foods Courses have trained more than 2,000 professionals from around the world. This training courses were created to accelerate innovation, share ideas, and showcase the latest developments in alternative proteins and plant-based foods across the entire formulation process.

It aims to give participants a theoretical and practical overview of plant-based proteins currently available for food applications and to provide hands-on information about their properties and functionalities through its workshops. It also offers an overview of plant-based food ingredient innovations (Colors, Flavors, Binders, Hydrocolloids, Stabilizers, Shelf-life).

The entry-level of delegates for this course is a BSc or MSc in the following areas of expertise: food, feed, chemistry, biology, nutrition, science, microbiology, health, etc. Managers with food-industry experience can also participate.

March 30-31 American Food Innovate Summit 🇺🇸

The American Food Innovate Summit will return to Chicago on March 2023. This event aims bringing together the leading experts within the food industry. The key speakers come from some of the largest companies to share their best practices, regulations, and techniques. Over 2 days they will share case studies and their valuable expertise on innovation, technology, and R&D & Formulation.

April

April 14-16 New Protein China Forum🇨🇳

The forum will take place at Nanjing International Exhibition Center.  It will cover heated topics, including Plant-based business Sessions, Cell-based business Sessions, Fermentation or Fungi business sessions, startups & Investors sessions. Experts from regulatory agencies, academics, investment institutions, leading companies, and innovative companies explained their opinions and predictions about the industry.

Meanwhile, VeggieWorld Activity Stage also presents more diverse activities: Live Cooking Show, KOLs sharing their experience, environmental protection cases, etc. The goal is aiming to build up a professional exchange and trade platform for global plant-based and new protein food industries, as well as a consumer education movement, to present the world’s latest products, technologies, and life concepts to everyone.

April 25-27 Bridge 2 Foods PB Foods & Proteins Summit America 🇺🇸

Bridge2Food is a unique 3-in-1 Summit on Industry, Startups, Ecosystems, Research Strategies which will take place in Chicago, United States, brings together key leaders from all along the value chain who are working to drive transformation. This summit included three days to learn the latest innovations and research, find solutions and strategies, grow networks, and discover where the plant-based sector is heading next.

May 

May 9-10 Food Innovate Milan 🇮🇹

The World Food Innovate Summit returns to Milan in May 2023. Bringing together the leading experts within the food industry. The key speakers come from some of the largest companies to share their best practices, regulations, and techniques

Over 2 days they will share case studies and their valuable expertise in food safety, quality, and manufacturing practices.

May 9-11 Vitafoods Europe 🇨🇭

Vitafoods annual gathering in Geneva, Switzerland sees a truly global audience across four sectors covering the entire nutraceutical supply chain, from beginning to end. This exhibition, conference and networking events form the perfect ecosystem for businesses to thrive and forge long term collaborations, enrich their understanding and initiate critical conversations around the most pressing issues concerning the health and nutrition industry.

May 11-12 FoodHack Summit 2023 🇨🇭

A 2-day event in Lausanne bringing together the world’s best and brightest food tech founders, leaders, and innovators. You will network with the best and brightest minds in FoodTech, discover upcoming startups and taste the latest industry innovations.

May 16-17 Rethinking Materials 2023 🇬🇧

Rethinking Materials 2023 will be a world-class gathering of over 300+ visionary CPG Brands, Retailers, Producers, Converters, Regulators, Innovators, and Investors reimagining how materials in consumer products are produced, consumed, repurposed, and financed. It will be hosted in London and live-streamed to a global audience online. In its third year, the summit presents perspectives from brands and corporate leaders facing big questions on sustainability, business continuity, and regulatory requirements; converters and manufacturers sourcing viable, scalable, and sustainable new solutions; start-ups and producers developing innovative technologies and exploring new markets, and investors scouting the next ground-breaking innovations.

May 16-17  Tastes of Better – Food Matters Live 🇬🇧

Embrace an exclusive VIP experience. Through technical presentations and tastings, you’ll explore the latest ingredient, flavour and colour solutions from the industry’s leading innovators.

The key themes focus on the need to meet the consumer demand for products that deliver on taste, convenience, sustainability and affordability.

May 16-18 Food4Future 🇪🇸

Food 4 Future Bilbao World Summit will reunite experts in AI applied to the design of new foods, technology industry for food production, research, and development centers applied to the improvement of food and resources, climate change agents, disruptive initiatives, and solutions with impact on the sector, start-ups that are revolutionizing and satisfying unmet demands in the market, business models and success stories of companies and multinationals in the industry, scientific associations and universities with applicable research to improve production processes, Companies, and designers of more sustainable packaging and packaging. This Call is open to consortia (public-private), industry experts, social activists, technology companies, researchers, analysts, and people with strategic visions who can help us inspire global leaders in the food ecosystem.

May 23-24 Blue Food Innovation Summit 🇬🇧

The Blue Food Innovation Summit returns to London to delve deeper into the fast-developing landscape of ocean health and blue food production. It has never been more important to invest in sustainable aquaculture. It will welcome aquaculture producers, feed specialists, technology providers, kelp farmers, investors, start-ups, and retailers from around the globe to exchange ideas, share experiences and forge new partnerships to scale blue food production sustainably while protecting and restoring our oceans.

Get a 10% discount on your ticket by using our discount code EAT10 

May 24-25 F&A Next 🇳🇱

F&A Next is about sharing insights on innovation and investing in early-stage businesses and connecting promising startups and scale-ups, to dedicated food & agtech investors and innovative corporates. The most promising Food & Ag startups and scale-ups will present their propositions on the ‘stage’. Its a 2-day event held in Wageningen with pitches and debates about the dynamics in food and agriculture. The 2023 theme is yet to be announced. Insights of the 8th edition are currently being developed.

Benefit from our 10% discount code: EA23 on F&A Next tickets (in person regular, in person startup and online).

If you book your tickets at April 23 the latest, your discount accumulates on top of the 15% early-bird discount, running up to 25% in total. 

June

June 1-2 Sweden Foodtech Big Meet 🇸🇪

The Sweden Foodtech Big Meet is our annual foodtech un-conference where we invite the best foodtech companies, entrepreneurs, scientists and athletes from all over the world.

June 6-8 Bridge2Food PB Foods Summit Europe 🇳🇱

Bridge2Food, the unique 4-in-1 Summit on Industry, Startups, Ecosystems, Research & Government Strategies, which will take place in The Hague, Netherlands, brings together key leaders from all along the value chain who are working to drive transformation. This summit includes three days to learn the latest innovations and research, find solutions and strategies, grow networks, and discover where the plant-based sector is heading next.

June 20-21 World Agritech Latam 🇧🇷

The World Agri-Tech South America Summit in São Paulo will gather global agri-food corporates, investors, and technology start-ups from around the world to uncover the most exciting innovations in the agri-food sector and to forge the right partnerships to take those solutions to market.

June 27-28 Future Food-Tech Alternative Proteins 🇺🇸

The summit on June 21-22 connected the entire value chain from around the world to map out the future of protein. 913 delegates joined us in New York to meet the Founders, investors, and food brands pioneering the future of alternative proteins.

TBD Fermentation-Enabled Alt.Pro. Europe 🇳🇱

Fermentation-Enabled Alternative Protein Summit Europe will be returning in 2023. The Fermentation-Enabled Alternative Protein Summit Europe will host key industry leaders from biotech and food tech, multinational consumer packaged goods, independent food brands and ingredient suppliers, looking towards scale-up and commercialization of next-generation alternative proteins.

July

July 11-13 Fermentation-Enabled Alternative Protein Summit Europe🇳🇱  Unlock the power of biomass and precision fermentation to bring alternative meat proteins to the market in the second edition of this program. Exciting developments within the novel foods space are unfolding over Europe and the rest of the world.  The novel foods technology area is seeing surges of investment, in countries such as Israel, The Netherlands, and Switzerland. Adding to the excitement, the emergence of the Fungi Protein Association has paved the way for key players in the field – Quorn FoodsEnough, and Mycorena – to advocate the fungi-based protein scene. Hear from all 3 of these companies, amongst others, at this event in Amsterdam.

September 

September 11-13 Cumulus 🇺🇸

Cumulus is designed for those at the forefront of the agtech, foodtech and intersecting climatetech ecosystem, including industry executives, founders, and, investors. This event will be held in Las Vegas for the premiere gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and investors in a showcase of the cutting-edge of agtech, foodtech, and intersecting climatetech companies. More than 250 thought leaders and pioneers will speak at their conferences, granting access to the people and technologies creating and supporting the sustainable future of food.

September 19-20 World Agritech London 🇬🇧

The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit has become the annual meeting place for the global agtech industry and brings together leading agribusinesses, co-operatives, CPG brands, entrepreneurs, investors, and policy makers to accelerate the transition to sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. The summit is an unrivalled opportunity to meet up with industry colleagues from across the UK and around the world, check in with partners, kickstart new connections, and secure face to face time with new prospects during side-meetings, dinners, drinks receptions, and dedicated networking experiences.

September 21-23 Future Food-Tech London 🇬🇧

Future Food-Tech’s European flagship returns in person for the first time in three years to spotlight the new technologies and partnerships that are building healthier and more sustainable food systems. The summit will offer an unrivaled opportunity to meet like-minded food brand directors, investors and entrepreneurs to share, showcase and scale these innovative solutions.

October 

October 7-11 Anuga 🇩🇪

As the leading global trade fair, Anuga is the most important source of impetus for the international food and beverage industry. As the world’s only supplier fair, it covers all aspects of food production. Here, the industry presents its latest innovations and technological visions – from process technology to filling and packaging technology to food safety, from packaging materials to digitalization and intralogistics. And beyond that, there’s plenty more to discover.

October 9-12  Tastes of Better – Food Matters Live 🇬🇧

Following their event series, embrace this exclusive VIP experience in their unique London venue. Through technical presentations and tastings, you’ll explore the latest ingredient, flavour and colour solutions from the industry’s leading innovators.

October 17-18 Nutrevent 🇫🇷

NutrEvent is an opportunity to connect with international key innovators in the Food, Feed, Nutrition, and Health sectors in Rennes, France. As a unique European partnering event, NutrEvent provides the ideal environment for academic and industrial actors to build partnerships, source innovative and competitive R&D projects, foster the emergence of collaborative projects, increase licensing opportunities, obtain funding and facilitate market access

October 25-26 Bridge 2 Foods Plant-Based Proteins & Foods Course Americas 🇺🇸

The Plant-Based Proteins & Foods Course, which will take place in Chicago, USA,  is designed to give participants a theoretical and practical overview of plant-based proteins currently available for food applications and to provide hands-on experience learning about their properties and functionalities.

October 31 – November 3  Asia Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit 🇸🇬

Food security is top of the agenda for the 2023 Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit. The programme will feature themed tracks for agriculture, aquaculture, indoor farming, and the future of food-tech. It’s an essential platform for knowledge-sharing and networking, through a valuable mix of panel debates, start-up pitches, breakout discussion groups, and 1-1 video networking. It will be held in a virtual and face to face format.

November 

November 13 Foodtech IL 🇮🇱

FoodTechIL is the main event of the Israeli FoodTech ecosystem. FoodTech IL will bring the entire community – entrepreneurs, investors, food industry leaders, government officials, researchers and service providers, together under one roof.

November 15-16 Plant-based World Europe 🇬🇧

Plant-Based World Expo is the must-attend, 100% plant-based event designed exclusively for food service and retail professionals, distributors, investors, and manufacturers. At this event, it can discover innovative plant-based products, hear from industry leaders and pioneers, and connect with the right people from the trade including retailers, caterers, investors, buyers, and distributors. Plus, you’ll be the first to sample mouth-watering plant-based food from ground-breaking international companies. 

November 28-30 Bridge 2 Foods PB Foods & Proteins Summit Asia🇸🇬

Bridge 2 Foods Plant-Base Foods & Protein Summit in Asia is a unique 2-in-1 Summit on Industry, Startups, Ecosystems, Research & Government Strategies, which will take place in Singapore, brings together key leaders from all along the value chain who are working to drive transformation. This summit included three days to learn the latest innovations and research, find solutions and strategies, grow networks, and discover where the plant-based sector is heading next.

November 28-30 Fi Europe 🇩🇪

Discover innovative products and solutions from 1000+ exhibitors, and hear firsthand from them at the Exhibitor Showcases. Stay updated on the latest industry trends through the comprehensive agenda of live and on-demand content sessions from global experts, and build relationships by networking with current and prospective business partners, thought leaders, and industry peers.

 

We will be regularly updating this article with foodtech events in 2023 as they come along!

Let's Raise the Bar

Alianza Team® launches it’s new Open Innovation Portal

  • A new platform to address the challenges in the food industry 

  • Alianza Team® is one of the leading innovation companies in Colombia, thanks to the development of 21 patent families and the confidence placed in global startup investments in the foodtech sector for 3M USD.

Alianza Team®, a Colombian-based corporate group, expert in lipids and fats and leader in the food sector, has announced the creation of a new Open Innovation Portal to foster collaboration between startups and industry, thus responding to the most important challenges of the sector, especially in the field of sustainability. This portal is aligned with the company’s aim of “nourishing a better tomorrow” through the development of innovative products and solutions to respond to new market and consumer needs. 

The new open innovation platform was created by Albora, with the support of Eatable Adventures, one of the three most important food technology accelerators in the world. Startups that collaborate with the platform could benefit from an investment plan, access to Alianza Team’s ® facilities that are equipped with the latest technologies, and its logistics network, as well as  the know-how of the company’s R&D team of professionals. 

This is a unique opportunity to develop their innovative ideas and reach the market quickly, from the hand of one of the leading companies in open innovation in the food and beverage sector in Colombia and one of the 10 most innovative companies in Colombia according to the ANDI (National Business Association of Colombia), the most representative economic guild in that country. Alianza Team® has obtained these recognitions thanks to the development of 21 families of patents and the trust placed in global startup investments in the foodtech sector for 3M USD.

Let’s Raise the Bar Challenge

The innovation platform will kick off with the Let’s Raise The Bar challenge. Its first challenge aims to find the most disruptive startups in the soap industry, in all sectors, to obtain a sustainable raw material that offers a good quality product for its consumers and whose production is friendly to the planet. 

Entrepreneurs who participate in this challenge could  be able to partner with Alianza Team® for the development of new soap lines for future projects, or have the company’s collaboration for the design and manufacture of a specific product, optimizing costs and scaling through access to the company’s technology. They could  also be able to potentially access other markets and obtain an investment plan.

“Innovation is part of the DNA of our company, being a value that we seek to promote in all areas internally and in the development of the value chain externally. Our commitment with our Open Innovation Portal is to promote an innovative ecosystem that leverages the growth of all the actors that are part of the chain,” said Maria Paula Rios, Vice President of Innovation and Digital Transformation of Alianza Team®.

 

In the words of Mila Valcárcel, Managing Partner of Eatable Adventures, “We are proud to launch this new innovation milestone with Alianza Team®, a leading company in the food industry and a pioneer in implementing innovative solutions to respond to and anticipate new market challenges. The collaboration between startups and industry offered by the open innovation model is key to develop and bring to market new products and proposals in a very fast and much more efficient way”

For more information visit: ​​www.albora.co/portal

Webinar ICEX

Webinar: New ingredients- shaping the future of food from Spain

WEBINAR

25/10/2022. Online 

Free entry, registration required. 

9:00AM CET

18:00PM  CET

 

ICEX Spain Trade & Investment is hosting a webinar on “New ingredients: shaping the future of food from Spain” featuring five Spanish startups, and one of the leading technological centers, that are disrupting the food industry by using the most innovative technologies to create the foods of the future, in the most sustainable way.

WHY PARTICIPATE

Today, technology in the food industry is an essential part of food production processes. As food is becoming more wellness-oriented, consumers are increasingly opting for foods and beverages that, in addition to providing satisfaction and pleasure in eating, also offer health functions or benefits. To meet this demand, entrepreneurs and large industries are in the need of innovating and producing certain functional foods, and in some cases introducing new ingredients to the market which have specific health attributes through new technologies such as cellular agriculture, fermentation and artificial intelligence.

This initiative aims to strengthen the network of the Spanish foodtech industry, to showcase it to the world, and highlight success stories and interesting projects from other countries to enhance collaboration.

AGENDA

Where Via online
When To ensure that you do not miss this chance to learn more about the Spanish food tech ecosystem, we are offering you two time slots at 9AM and 6PM CET.

9.00AM CET Webinar #1: Shaping the future of food from Spain

18.00PM CET Webinar #2: Shaping the future of food from Spain

Registration Registration is completely free. Please register at the following link:

9.00 AM CET: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6LQmKDQjQiSOS-abCzoKog

18.00PM CET: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-PexbwSjTiGcQN6paT8l_A

SPEAKERS

Bread Free

Daniel Gomez Bravo, CEO – Bread Free  

Bread Free:  Bread free is a startup formed by young entrepreneurs who, through an innovative process, have managed to process cereals with gluten to separate this component from the rest of the food so that it can be consumed by people with celiac disease. 

Bio:  Daniel Gómez-Bravo is the CEO and technology developer of BREAD FREE S.L. He is a graduate in Biotechnology, Master in Health Information Engineering, and has experience in Research Centers such as the Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics. Daniel is fully involved in the use of Biotechnology to solve a real problem in the market, and a primary need of the gluten-free population. He has an economic, business and legal background backed by his training at the European Business and Innovation Center of Navarra (CEIN). With international prospection, he seeks to direct the company’s technology towards foreign markets, and thus be able to help as many people as possible.

 

The Good Cubes

Manuel Diez de Oñate De Toro, CEO – The Good Cubes (Origin Algae

Origin Algae: With the help of technology, Origin Algae provide the means and resources necessary to start producing spirulina, or to optimize your crops in an intelligent way.

Bio: Manuel graduated in industrial engineering at the University of Seville, where he began his career in the algae sector working in a spin-off of the university where he studied processes to make the production of algae more efficient in a sustainable way. After working for this company and for the Air Force as an intern in the Quality Department, he decided to take the leap to Sweden to study a master’s degree in business and entrepreneurship. At the end of this process, Manuel had already begun to undertake projects in real estate and music, but it was from the end of 2021 when he decided to undertake his current project focused on food based on algae for human consumption, Origin Algae (The Good Cubes).

Ingredalia

Miguel Ángel Cubero Márquez, CEO – Ingredalia 

Ingredalia develops and produce natural functional ingredients from plant by-products of agri-food companies for use in the food, cosmetic, nutraceutical and pet industries. With sustainability and circular economy as the cornerstones of our activity, Ingredalia obtain, natural functional ingredients, extracts, and healthy additives. 

Bio: He has developed his professional career as a technician, advancing from the position of laboratory manager to R&D Director at Indulleida for more than 10 years. He has been part of the Technical Management and held other management positions in other companies, such as aroma companies and other food industries; he has also been working as an associate professor at the University of Lleida, as well as visiting professor from 2008 to the present. He has developed and led various R&D projects, directing the creation of new lines and following the industrial development of the companies in which he has worked. Therefore, he has extensive experience in moving from an R&D project to an industrial reality. He has been the full-time General Director of the company since February 2020, assuming full responsibility for the fulfillment of the business plan. 

Sanygran

Roselyne Chane, Director – Sanygran 

Sanygran produce extruded food based on legumes and cereals, highlighting their nutritional and environmental benefits. Their vegetable protein has now become the basis of all our products due to its protein content, source of fiber, low level of saturated fats, as well as being gluten and lactose-free and manufactured in Spain. All this, without forgetting the positive impact it has on our health and that of the environment, by using less water resources than animal protein and reducing greenhouse gases from livestock farming, while promoting biodiversity and animal subsistence.

Bio: With +18 years of managing experience In Sales, Marketing, Innovation and Business development in the Food industry, Roselyne is now the Managing Director of Alimentos Sanygran, a Spanish Vegtech company specialized in plant-based foods and ingredients.

She believes in spending her time, energy and money in projects that impact positively on the planet and its people and this is why she also invests in foodtech, biotech and renewable energy companies.

Tebrio

Adriana Casillas, CEO – TEBRIO 

Tebrio: Spanish biotechnology company that is building an 80.000 square meter insect farm – the largest of its kind in the world, which, in line with our pilot operations, will breed and transform mealworms into 3 main co-products: (i) amino rich, sustainable premium protein for petfood, fishmeal and animal feed, (ii) tech powered biofertilizer for plant nutrition and (iii) chitosan for biodegradable plastic manufacturing. 

Bio: Adriana Casillas is CEO and Co-Funder of Tebrio. During her professional life, she has developed successfully different technological projects both in USA and Spain, related to industries such as art or food. She is also actively involved in interactions with the European Commission, EFSA and other European stakeholders for the development of the insect industry in Europe through her position as President of IPIFF, the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed, based in Brussels. Adriana  holds a Bachelor’s degree in classical and contemporary music, MBA and Executive Master in Agri-Food Business Management from ESMUC, Johns Hopkins University and the IME Business School of the University of Salamanca, respectively.

AZTI

Carolina Najar, Food Market Director – AZTI

Azti conducts strategic and applied research in an international context, providing comprehensive and innovative solutions to its clients. AZTI’s mission is to transform science into sustainable and healthy development for present and future societies.

Bio Entrepreneur and business woman specialized in food industry and gastronomy of the national, European, and latinoamerican markets. She has experience in the GMCP (Gross Market Consumption Products) sector, where she has held different positions within the management team in the commercial and marketing areas. Foodtech investor. Teacher at Cámarabilbao University Business School. Founder of Baiba, a consultancy specialized in food, mentor al EIT Food and other incubation and acceleration programs. Since 2021 she is the director of food market at the technological center AZTI. 

 

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FONDO EUROPEO DE DESARROLLO REGIONAL (FEDER).                                      A way of making Europe
This service/activity is eligible for co-financing from Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)

 

Patricia Fernández de Arroyabe

Eatable Adventures consolidates its presence in Catalonia

  • Foodtech accelerator opened a new office in Barcelona under the leadership of Patricia Fernández de Arroyabe, appointed VP of Corporate & Government Partnerships.

  • The company that already operates in Catalonia with open innovation and government initiatives programs will promote the growth of the local Foodtech ecosystem from Barcelona.

Eatable Adventures, one of the three most important food technology accelerators in the world, expands its management team and opens a new office in Barcelona in response to its expansion in the national and international agrifood market. This decision is part of the company’s growth strategy whose objective is to lead the transformation of the food system towards a model way more efficient and sustainable through the collaboration of governments, corporations, and startups. 

Catalonia is a strategic pole for the food industry where the company has already established synergies with local food companies and institutions to select and scale the most disruptive startups that drive innovation through the entire food value chain. To do this, the company has chosen Barcelona to open the new office. Thanks to this expansion Eatable Adventures has appointed Patricia Fernández de Arroyabe as VP of Corporate & Government Partnerships. 

Fernández de Arroyabe, who will carry out her functions from the new office in Barcelona is an expert in the agri-food value chain and a specialist in food service, and delivery, mainly. With more than 25 years of experience in the sector, before joining the Foodtech accelerator she held positions of responsibility in Alimentaria Exhibitions, Comess Group, ITW, and AECOC. Moreover, she is the Director of the Master in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Gastronomic Management of the BHC and a member of the Advisory Board del European Foodservice Summit.

Patricia Fernández de Arroyabe will have a strategic role in the national and international expansion of the company, promoting collaboration with corporations and governments to boost innovation in the agri-food sector. As she explained  “Passion for innovation in the agri-food sector has led me to embark on this new thrilling project. Our challenge is to add every day more food companies and entrepreneurs to the wave of food tech to build the food system of tomorrow ”.

« The agri-food industry is, with no doubt, one of the economical engines of Catalonia. Given the current challenges is necessary to join forces from all agents of the ecosystem not only to strengthen the strategic position of this economy on the world map but also to catch foreign investment in this sector and that this contributes even more to Catalonia’s economy as it’s already happening in other places around the world» commented Fernández de Arroyabe.

With a team of professionals that has doubled its size and turnover in the last two years and the opening of new offices in Spain and other markets, Eatable Adventures continues to consolidate its expansion and leadership in the application of innovation models in the agri-food sector.  The accelerator already counts on a solid food tech entrepreneurship ecosystem and ever since its foundation in 2015 has collaborated with more than 30 corporations on 4 continents supporting its growth and international expansion thanks to the implementation of new business innovation models. 

Meet the Alumni: Le Room Service

 

The impact of room service on hotels is a management problem since it affects the flow of food and beverage services in hotels that offer room service as well as the burden it places on staff and hotels that do not have kitchen facilities.

Le Room Service aims to improve the hotel offer and increase sales by making room service itself more attractive, adding value to the hotel sector. You’ll discover their secrets and learn about their experience in the Eatable Adventures Acceleration Program as you read on.

 

  1. How do you manage to add value to the hotel sector from Le Room Service? What are the services you offer?

 

Le Room Service is a company specialized in outsourcing the F&B service of hotel rooms, apart-hotels and tourist apartments.

We were born in 2017 with the aim of revolutionizing the hospitality sector by offering the cost-effective alternative to room service through operational innovation and specialization in gastronomic trends. As of today, we operate with more than 300 Hotel establishments among which stand out groups such as Meliá, NH, Vincci, Iberoestar, Turim or Barceló in Seville, Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon.

We focus on bringing value to the hotel sector in 5 aspects: improved profitability, new customer experience, disruptive concept, standardization of processes and increased valuation, allowing hotels to focus on their core business.

 

  1. Why did you decide to join EA’s Acceleration Program?

 

At that time we were in a very early stage of the project, but we already had the first positive results that validated the viability of the business model.

We saw Eatable Adventures as a great opportunity to introduce my company to the startup ecosystem and exponentially accelerate its growth. Additionally, being able to rely on corporate mentors from Grupo Meliá and Banco Sabadell increased the chances of success.

 

  1. How has Eatable Adventures helped you achieve your goals?

 

Eatable Adventures helped us in different ways to professionalize our project.

Firstly, we had an initial mentoring phase where we drew up a medium-term plan, set goals and followed up on them. As part of this plan, Le Room Service aimed to obtain an investment round for national expansion, which later culminated in the opening of its second location (after Seville), Madrid.

Secondly, Eatable Adventures opened doors for us through its network of contacts. With partners like Meliá as well as with investment funds and angel investors. Thanks to all this, we got our first round of investment at the end of the program.

 

  1. What is the most valuable advice José Luis has given you during our Acceleration Program?

 

First of all, we would like to thank José Luis for his involvement and trust in the Le Room Service project. He has always followed our evolution very closely, offering, from his experience, the impulse and stimulus that the startup required in each phase.

More than a specific advice, we keep his mentality to think big, eliminating the barriers that we could have and transmitting the limitless scalability that our project has.

 

  1. How do you see Le Room Service in the medium/long term?

 

At the moment we are immersed and focused on our international expansion, we have just opened in Lisbon and we are working on future openings in Berlin and Paris. We have outlined an ambitious expansion plan and, in the next 3 years we want to be offering our services in the main European capitals.

In addition, we are also growing horizontally in services; we no longer only offer Room Service, but we are now a more comprehensive solution for Food & Beverage departments. We have the possibility to complete the hotel’s offer with breakfast, events or lobby services.

We are also rebranding to adapt to the new positioning that the business requires at this stage. Using our new exclusive packaging, we can operate without barriers in 5-star hotels and raise the brand’s perception.

There are many changes happening right now, and we are determined to successfully navigate them. Among other things, we owe our success to the experience and know-how acquired over the years and to the invaluable support provided by Eatable Adventures.

Get to know more of our Alumni here.

Precision Fermentation & Cell Agriculture Disrupting the Dairy Industry

In the dairy industry, cell cultures and fermentation techniques are beginning to demonstrate industrial and commercial viability, as shown by the growth of investment in this sector and the emergence of new startups using these technologies as their foundation. Proof of this is that investment in the dairy segment has tripled in 2021, compared with 2020, according to Dealroom data analyzed by Eatable Adventures. Also, according to data from The Good Food Institute, fermentation companies have raised $1.7 billion, which accounts for one-third of all investments in alternative proteins. 

Research, innovation, and technology make it possible to develop new production and food transformation models that allow us to improve existing products and create new ones. By remaking the same proteins and fats from dairy, but without animals, formulators are trying to create dairy alternatives that closely resemble traditional dairy products, thanks to disruptive technologies like cell agriculture and fermentation. 

The following extract from the FoodTech Market Intelligence Report – Alternative Dairy by Eatable Adventures highlighting the technologies and startups debuting in the Dairy Industry demonstrated that precision fermentation continues to gain momentum among new startups in the sector.

Alternative Dairy Startups Momentum

Source: Dealroom data analyzed by Eatable Adventures

From Eatable Adventures data, we find that in 2021 the alternative dairy fermentation startup, Perfect Day, debuted the fermentation investment profile after receiving $350M in funding, followed by Remilk at the beginning of 2022, receiving $120M.

Additionally, according to more Eatable Adventures data, we can state that precision fermentation technology is highly mature at the moment in terms of investments, meaning that the fascinating technology that cell culture is, is still ripe for innovation and is estimated to grow exponentially in the upcoming years.

Cell agriculture and fermentation in the dairy industry

Source: Dealroom data analyzed by Eatable Adventures

 

Precision fermentation is not only very mature in terms of investment, but also in terms of technology development. Foods containing ingredients made with this technology have been around for decades, and we are eating them on a daily basis. A recent article by Sonalie Figueiras from Green Queen features different precision fermentation foods and products we have been consuming, including enzymes used in food production (e.j pectinases which help make fruit juices clear), vitamins we take in supplement form or powder, natural flavors added to certain foods (e.j vanilla flavoring), and even cheese (rennet, a key ingredient in cheese production, is produced via precision fermentation). 

On the other hand, cell-cultured technology is a promising technology for animal-based proteins but still needs further development and acceptance.
By using this method, meat is produced with the same types of cells arranged in the same structure as animal tissues, delivering identical sensory and nutritional properties as conventional meat. Nevertheless, there are still many obstacles for cellular agriculture to overcome such as regulatory aspects, consumer perception, and socio-political challenges, but that doesn’t negate the fact that is a rising trend that entrepreneurs and investors, and companies should follow.

Accelerating the market through Open Innovation Programs

In this food revolution, open innovation programs and synergies between big companies and startups are of major importance to accelerate growth and assist new startups to reach their objectives.  For instance, Mylkcubator, the global incubation program led by Pascual Innoventures, and Eatable Adventures, recently launched its second edition and are currently seeking projects with innovative solutions in the cellular agriculture spectrum for the dairy industry. 

If you have THE idea or project regarding disruptive innovation in the dairy industry using cell agriculture technology, visit the official website mylkcubator.com and get to know all the details about the program.

For further details regarding Mylkcubator, click here.

Mahou San Miguel launches a new challenge addressed to the entrepreneurial community seeking to find the beverage of the future

  • The brewery along with the accelerator Eatable Adventures, are calling for startups from all over the world to participate in a new innovation challenge for the beverage sector.
  • The selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to develop a product test together with Mahou San Miguel’s team of experts.

Mahou San Miguel, a 100% Spanish family-owned beverage company and leader in the beer sector in Spain, launches the Rethink Your Drink Challenge, a new challenge to discover the drink of the future. As part of its Barlab Ventures project, along with Eatable Adventures, one of the three leading global food technology accelerators, the brewery wants to offer an open innovation platform for the entire food and beverage sector.

From today until September 5, startups from around the world with a differential, sustainable and innovative proposal that generates a transformative impact on the traditional beverage industry can submit their applications through the website www.barlabventures.com.

In the words of Miguel Ángel Miguel, General Manager of Transformation at Mahou San Miguel, “BarLab Ventures allows us to unite two of our main commitments: to leverage the possibilities that technology offers in order to provide innovative solutions to new challenges of the beverage sector, as well as strengthening collaboration with other organizations to drive their transformation”. Miguel Ángel, also points out that “we are convinced that through this project we will be able to share with entrepreneurs a common perspective to make bars, restaurants, distributors and the rest of our value chain strengthen their collaboration towards generating wealth, based on aspects such as excellence, innovation, and sustainability”.

José Luis Cabañero, CEO and founder of Eatable Adventures, commented “we are delighted to launch this initiative hand in hand with Mahou San Miguel, a company that is clearly committed to innovation and entrepreneurship”. He also assures that “the beverage sector offers many opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups who seek to offer alternatives and innovative solutions to consumers, responding to the current reality but, above all, to the challenges of the future”.

 

Supporting entrepreneurs

The startups will have to present their innovative solutions in one of the following categories: innovative non-alcoholic alternatives, low alcoholic beverages (4º-7º), traditional categories reinvented, and beverages of the future.

Mahou San Miguel will offer the opportunity to develop a product test with its team of experts to accelerate the success of the winning proposals. In addition, the brewery will make available to the startups its distribution network, support in managing their territorial licenses, as well as in the field of financing, among other services.